Nation to sharpen quality focus

The nation will step up its effort to boost industrial products' quality by upgrading homegrown core components and cultivating globally competitive small and medium-sized companies, officials said on Tuesday.

The move came as quality upgrading becomes a key in further implementing the country's Made in China 2025 strategy.

Luo Wen, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said China has already become one of the world's largest producers of more than 220 types of products.

"But gaps still exist between the reliability and stability of domestic-made components and those of foreign products," Luo said.

He called for an intensified push to tackle common problems that limit the development of industries such as industrial robotics, smart home appliances, wearable devices and homegrown aircraft.

The comments came as the nation has made swift strides in improving product quality. Currently, more than 85 percent of key electronic parts in Chinese defense and high-tech equipment are domestically made, up from less than 30 percent around a decade ago, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

China is eyeing to break foreign dominance in the manufacturing of core robot components in one to two years, as the world's largest industrial robot market makes progress in producing reliable speed reducers, servomotors and control panels

"In addition to cultivating globally competitive big companies, more efforts are needed to nurture small and medium-sized enterprises which specialize in one or two products," said Qu Xianming, an expert with the National Manufacturing Strategy Advisory Committee, which advises the government on plans to upgrade the manufacturing sector.

"High-end industrial components are where China lags behind other countries. Powered by technology and innovation, SMEs can help us catch up and complement China's industrial structure," Qu added.

According to him, a group of SMEs in eastern China have already grown into players with global influence in terms of a certain type of product or technology.

Around 35 companies in Jiangsu province, for instance, have made their way on to the list of the world's top three suppliers in their industrial segments, according to a report from the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Tan Shunhui, chairman of China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co Ltd, said the company has been working hard to beef up innovation capabilities and improve product quality.